View Poll Results: Does AWD contribute to push/understeer?
Yes
18
78.26%
No
5
21.74%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll
Does AWD contribute to Push? Yes or No?
09-28-2007, 12:52 PM
#1
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Does AWD contribute to Push? Yes or No?
Many of us relate very bad push to AWD. Although driving Porsches we know that there are other factors (bias) that also give a "push". So I just wanted to clarify if AWD does infact contribute to understeer or push.
09-28-2007, 02:51 PM
#2
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AWD pulls. 
Actually, my esperience in a 964 C4 was with a very poor set up so I don't think my opinion would fairly represent the answer to your question. I am sure someone else will chime in though.
Actually, my esperience in a 964 C4 was with a very poor set up so I don't think my opinion would fairly represent the answer to your question. I am sure someone else will chime in though.
09-28-2007, 03:33 PM
#4
Sure it does. Giving the front tire contact patch more work to do (forward drive
as well as lateral grip) means it can't do as well at lateral grip alone. Front-
wheel drive presents this problem at it's maximum, where you must carry
speed though a corner, and expect serious push if you try to accelerate
before you're finished cornering. If a car has significant weight in the front,
and that end has traction to spare, such as on slippery surfaces, where
there isn't enough weight transfer to unload the front, then AWD can help,
but in the dry, front power contributes to push.
as well as lateral grip) means it can't do as well at lateral grip alone. Front-
wheel drive presents this problem at it's maximum, where you must carry
speed though a corner, and expect serious push if you try to accelerate
before you're finished cornering. If a car has significant weight in the front,
and that end has traction to spare, such as on slippery surfaces, where
there isn't enough weight transfer to unload the front, then AWD can help,
but in the dry, front power contributes to push.
09-28-2007, 05:10 PM
#5
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Sure it does. Giving the front tire contact patch more work to do (forward drive
as well as lateral grip) means it can't do as well at lateral grip alone. Front-
wheel drive presents this problem at it's maximum, where you must carry
speed though a corner, and expect serious push if you try to accelerate
before you're finished cornering. If a car has significant weight in the front,
and that end has traction to spare, such as on slippery surfaces, where
there isn't enough weight transfer to unload the front, then AWD can help,
but in the dry, front power contributes to push.
as well as lateral grip) means it can't do as well at lateral grip alone. Front-
wheel drive presents this problem at it's maximum, where you must carry
speed though a corner, and expect serious push if you try to accelerate
before you're finished cornering. If a car has significant weight in the front,
and that end has traction to spare, such as on slippery surfaces, where
there isn't enough weight transfer to unload the front, then AWD can help,
but in the dry, front power contributes to push.
This is my belief as well, and seems quite straight forward, but some guy who says he raced for Porsche America
(not PCA) says it has nothing to do with push, also claims to be a PCA and other HPDE instructor. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt out of line.
09-28-2007, 08:18 PM
#7
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It does somewhat , but like anything else you can engineer around it ...
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09-28-2007, 10:05 PM
#8
yes, I wish AWD hadn't been banned so quickly after Audi did well with it,
but note that the Audi was front-engined so there was more traction to
be milked there than in a Porsche. I would love to have a large body of
AWD tuning/setup/racing knowledge. I *have* seen gains through games
with AWD, such as putting slightly bigger diameter tires in the front so
the viscous system was always delivering some power. It messed up
the ABS a bit, tricking it into rear-biassing the brakes, but it was nice-
handling for autocross.
but note that the Audi was front-engined so there was more traction to
be milked there than in a Porsche. I would love to have a large body of
AWD tuning/setup/racing knowledge. I *have* seen gains through games
with AWD, such as putting slightly bigger diameter tires in the front so
the viscous system was always delivering some power. It messed up
the ABS a bit, tricking it into rear-biassing the brakes, but it was nice-
handling for autocross.